Forget the Past

Forget the Past Part 13

Old Friends Appear

It was a large enough village as villages go. Elsbeth had never been here but knew of it, of course. She headed North from her own village.

Having dismounted, she searched out her surroundings. The center square was bustling, people entering and exiting store fronts. The hard, snow packed streets were muddied and almost impassable.

Two soldiers of the King stood talking, down the way, outside a dress shoppe. Probably hoping to catch the eye of some unsuspecting lady.

They would do, she supposed but first Elsbeth had to make certain Erich received his possession back. She did not trust the soldiers with such a task.

The animal was valuable and worth much. Elsbeth had it in mind to offer the Smitty the weapon to ensure Erich received the animal's return but she had left the damned thing on Sean's table.

She had no idea if the Blacksmith was an honorable man of good character but she could see no other solution to her problem.

She led the magnificent animal across the area, entering the livery area.

The large, muscled man looked up from his work, laying the red-hot iron aside. "What do you want?"

"I have a request to make." She tried a sincere smile, hoping it worked. "I know we are not acquainted..."

"Ye be a woman." The dark eyes swept her frame warily.

"Thank you for noting." another smile. "But to the task at hand." She brought the horse along side.

"Where did the likes of you get such a fine beast?" the dark eyes were more than suspicious now, they were hostile and accusing.

"I can explain."

The man crossed, grasping her arm roughly.

"Explain it to the constable."

And then...out of the blue, another large hand clamped about the Smith's massive wrist.

"And no one hurts..." a snarling hiss ground from Erich Richter's throat. "What is mine."

Elsbeth gasped her shock, finding her arm released. She stared at the handsome profile of the man, her senses stunned by his sudden appearance.

The woman rubbed her wrist, her mind unresponsive as yet to the strange turn of events.

Erich threw the man's wrist aside, his anger more than prevalent. "Stable the animal." he barked the command. "And never again, lay hands on my property."

"You refer to the animal, of course." Elsbeth bristled. "I am no 'your property."

The gray eyes shifted to her and she...shut the hell up.

"I did not know, My Lord...I thought..."

"It was clear what you thought." Erich grated his fury.

The man grasped the girl's arm, leading her across the town square to an Inn.

He said nothing the entire time, his jaw working, his fists clenching and unclenching, his features chiseled in stone.

Elsbeth glanced furtively to the soldiers as they passed.

They nodded their respect and nothing more.

Elsbeth remained silent, not knowing what there was to say or do, in reality.

The man marched through the dining section of the Inn, sitting her down roughly at a table near the window. He took a seat across from her, his manner cold and aloof.